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The prosecution was brought by Middlesbrough Council after Environmental Health Officers from its Public Protection Service investigated the serious accident.

The company, based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, was charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 with failing to protect persons not in their employment.

The trailing wire (Image: Handout)

Appearing before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, the company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety law and was fined £6,000 and also ordered to pay £1,645 towards the council’s costs.

Judith Hedgley, Middlesbrough Council’s head of public protection, said: “This company failed to manage their business safety, giving rise to a serious risk to the public which resulted in a child being injured.

“This incident caused significant distress not only to the child but to friends and family at a wedding party which turned a happy occasion into a serious incident.

“Employers must take steps to protect their employees and any other people who could be affected by their work, giving particular consideration to the more vulnerable and those at greater risk such as small children.”